William D. Enger and Effie J. Mestad, AKA, Opposites Really Do Attract!

            Effie Mestad, age 3            "Little Willie Cigars" photo, age 2

                  William D. Enger was born November 19, 1899 in Hanley Falls, Minnesota to Edward Ellingsen Enger and Hannah Larson, both children of Norwegian immigrants.  Bill Enger, or Little Willie as he was fondly known, grew up in Hanley Falls surrounded by a large extended clan of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.  Ed was the town Marshall, Deputy Sheriff, and Fire Chief at various times, and belonged to several fraternal organizations such as Odd Fellows and Masons.

Before long younger brothers and sisters joined the family, too;--Earle 1904; Hazel 1907; and Stanley 1911, were all born in Hanley Falls.  Arthur, 1902, was born in Lengby, Minnesota because Hannah and Ed went there to stay with her parents, Martin and Mattie Larson, for a time while Little Willie recovered from a nearly fatal case of measles and pneumonia. The doctor in Hanley had recommended to Ed and Hannah that they take their sick baby to the woods to recuperate, and so they did—and he did—after which they came back to Hanley Falls.

In 1912 when Bill was 12 years old Ed was hired by the M & St. L Railroad as a water expert, and in order to be closer to his work he moved the family to Winthrop, Minnesota for two years, then to a small farm in Wisconsin for three years, on to Minneapolis where their last child Vivian was born in 1916, and then to Hopkins, Minnesota for a year. During World War I there was a real shortage of men to work on the railroads, and Ed was asked to go to North Dakota to take over the supervision of railroad bridge building and water stations in the Missouri River Division near Washburn.

 

Bill and Effie Enger met in 1919 on the North Dakota prairie

Bill, who was the only one old enough for army duty, was rejected due to “flat feet” so he was working on the railroad with his Dad. (Note: He could outwalk anyone with those flat feet, even up in his 70's). In 1919 Ed had saved some money and decided to buy Rice Lake Ranch north of Ryder, North Dakota, which was for sale with its stock.  The ranch came with 1200 owned acres, 2500 leased acres, 200 cows and 50 horses.  Bill moved to the ranch with the rest of the family, and thus fate once again intervened to change the course of history!



Vivian, Effie, Bill and Art at Rice Lake Ranch, 1920

 

It so happened that a new young schoolteacher came to the nearby one-room schoolhouse in 1919 for a teaching job.  She was Effie Jeaneatta Mestad from Kenmare, North Dakota who had graduated from Kenmare High School in 1917 and then attended the Minot Normal School to become a teacher.

Effie, born August 1, 1899 in Wallingford, Iowa,  was the youngest daughter of John Mestad of Kenmare, son of Norwegian immigrants from Voss, and the late Caroline Jacobson, the daughter of Danish immigrants from Aalborg.  John and Caroline Mestad were married in Iowa and homesteaded to North Dakota in 1900 with their four daughters.  Caroline died on the homestead in 1902 leaving John to raise the four girls. He moved to Kenmare and in 1906 was remarried to Olga Estabrook. After the four daughters left home John and Olga moved to Minot and ran a small grocery store.

Bill Enger’s younger siblings, Hazel and Stanley, were students at the Ryder School and Effie became their teacher.  Bill was a young man of 19 by then and he was curious about the new gal in town.  He \asked his father Ed what the new school teacher was like, and Ed, in his usual teasing manner, said “Oh, she is just an ugly old hag and you wouldn’t like her.”  Bill took him seriously and didn’t bother to go near the schoolhouse.

Effie, in the meantime, was rooming with the Dopp family on a farm neighboring Rice Lake Ranch.  On the 1920 census for Ward County, Rice Lake, North Dakota, taken on January 24, 1920, we find Edward Enger, 46; farmer; Hannah, 40, wife; William 20; Arthur 17; Earle 16; Hazel 12; Stanley 8; and Vivian, 3 ½.  The very next entry is Ira Dopp, farmer, 34; wife Bell, 35; daughter Dortha, age 13; and Effie Mestad, boarder, teacher in public school.”

One day Effie decided to go on a visit to Rice Lake Ranch to meet the parents of her students and she came  riding up the Enger’s driveway on a horse.  Effie was indeed a beautiful young woman and she immediately caught Bill’s eye. “Who is that!” Bill asked. “Oh,” said his amused father, “that’s the ugly old schoolteacher I was telling you about.”  Bill was quite upset with his father for fooling him like that, and now he definitely wanted to meet that schoolteacher.  He had wasted too much time already!

Bill worked up the courage to ask Effie for a date.  She said yes, and to impress her Bill borrowed a team of horses and a buggy from a friend.  He proudly drove over to the Dopp residence and helped Effie into the buggy.  To show off a bit he cracked the whip, startling the horses so they took off and separated themselves  from the buggy, leaving it behind in the dust.  Bill was still holding tight to the reins and the horses dragged him for a ways before he got them stopped.  When he came back to where he had so abruptly left Effie, the buggy was upside down and she was under it.  What a way to impress a first date! 

Luckily neither of them was hurt, except for Bill’s pride of course.  Years later when they were telling me this story I said, “Wow Mom, and you went out with him again after that?” She smiled coyly and said, “Well, we were about the only two young people out there of dating age. We didn’t have a lot of choices!”

In March of 1920 a North Dakota blizzard of epic proportions visited the Ryder prairie.  Effie and her students were already in the schoolhouse when it hit and it soon became obvious that this was going to be a big one.  Effie made up her mind that she and all of her students were going to stay in the schoolhouse until it was over, as some of them lived quite a long ways from the school.  A few of  the older boys said they thought they could make it to their homes but little Miss Effie Mestad, who was smaller than most of them, put her foot down and said, “NO!”  No one was going to leave that schoolhouse until the storm was over or until someone came to rescue them.  She went so far as to follow them outside if they had to relieve themselves to make sure they came back inside.

If you know anything about North Dakota blizzards of those days, the fierce winds and blowing snow made it impossible see your hand in front of your face.  All the farms had ropes tied between the house and the barn in the winter so they could make their way back and forth to care for their animals. 

Bill and Effie were seriously dating by that time, and in fact were secretly engaged!  Bill knew Effie was at the schoolhouse, and the harder the blizzard raged the more worried he became.  He went to the barn, hitched the horses to the sleigh, and started them in what he thought was the direction of the school but the horses were too smart and just went in circles right back to the barn so Bill had to give up.  Others also tried to get to the school and were turned back.

Meanwhile Effie and the students—all of them—were perfectly fine.  They used their coats for beds, kept the heating stove going, and ate the meager leftovers from the lunches they had brought to school that day.  When rescuers were finally able to make it to the schoolhouse the next day by following the fenceposts they found everyone hungry but safe. Later it was discovered that some students from neighboring schools had tried to make it home during the storm and had been found frozen to death.  Effie was touted as a heroine for keeping her children safe.

Effie wrote to her father in Kenmare telling him of her experience and John Mestad was so proud of his daughter that he published the letter in the Kenmare newspaper.  My Mom had often told me this story but she no longer had a copy of the article.  In 1992 I visited Kenmare and decided to try and find the article in the newspaper but I didn’t know exactly where to look.  I knew it had to be in the winter of 1919 or 1920 but I looked through all of those issues up to April and didn’t find it.  I was just about to give up when I came to the issue dated April 8, 1920, and there it was.  It had been a very late blizzard!

The Kenmare News, Oldest Paper in Ward County, April 8, 1920:  Ryder, N. Dak., Mar. 21, 1920: 

“Dear Papa—I suppose you are wondering how we got over the blizzard;  that is if it was as bad there as it was here.  In the school south of Ryder there were four little boys started home from school in an open sleigh and the horses got down in a slough and couldn’t get up again.  The two oldest boys worked with them a long time but no use.  They were 14, 12, 10 and 9 years of age. The 12-year-old boy was all tired out so sank in the snow and went to sleep.  The 14-year-old boy got almost within calling distance of the house but could go no farther, so sank there.  The other two were in the sled and the 10-year-old boy covered the other one with a blanket and laid over him to try and keep him alive, but as you know the snow was wet and then it would freeze, so being all wet it was impossible to keep alive.  The father had started out about four o’clock to meet the children if they should be coming from school, but it was impossible for him to face the wind so he went back in the house, saying that the teacher would surely keep the children at the school house as she had board and lodging there for herself.  That night the father and mother felt so gloomy, but the father kept telling the mother that he knew they staid (sp) at the school house and that God would surely take care of their little ones.  In the morning it was just as bad so the father started out to the school house with something to eat for the children.  When he had gone a little ways he saw an overshoe sticking up in the snow, and he commenced kicking at it and found it was solid, so he kicked a little more and saw a leg and then he knew.  He didn’t seem to realize so he carried this boy to the house thinking he had started out walking but the others were still at the schoolhouse.  There was a little life left in the boy but he died before he reached the house.  The father went on and then when he saw the sled he realized what had happened.  The horses were standing with their backs to the wind still alive.  The one little boy in the sled lived a little while after he got home, but he died soon.  They had a funeral Saturday in Ryder.  Think of a poor father having to buy four little coffins.  They have one 16-year-old boy left now.  It seems a pity but I suppose it is all for the best.

There was a bachelor south of here found leaning against a barb wire fence frozen also.  In Max the man driving the school wagon started out with the kids but his horses got down and couldn’t go any farther.  He went out and unhitched the horses and let them go.  Then he crawled into the covered wagon and stayed in there all night with the children and kept the fire.  He was pretty wise.  I hear in several other places there were school children frozen.  I heard there were seven frozen around Berthold.

Now, I will tell you about my school.  At recess Monday afternoon I warned the kids that not one of them should leave the room.  The little girls and little boys didn’t get a smell outside unless I went along and then didn’t go only outside the door.  The big boys didn’t get out either unless it was absolutely necessary.  After school it was no better so I said not one of them were to stir outside unless someone came after them.  The Peterson boy, 16 years old, had a sled and horses there and his brother 14 and 5 little sisters.  He said he thought he could get home all right, but nothing doing!

Believe me, I watched that door like a cat and every five minutes I counted the kids to see if they were all there.  The time dragged on and we had no supper and were getting hungry, as we only had a cold lunch for dinner.  But it got no better outside so about ten o’clock we made beds for the little girls and boys on the desks with coats.  The boys laid on the floor around the stove curled up like dogs.  It seemed like there were kids all over.  I sat up all night and kept a good fire as the kids were laying around with nothing over them.  I locked the door, too, and there we were.  The water leaked in the ceiling so one side of the room was all wet.  Luckily we had two lamps with chimneys and kerosene.  I kept one lamp burning low all night, waiting for it to get better and for somebody to come.  I believe it was the longest night I ever spent.  I made the kids shut up and try to sleep a lot.

Morning finally came and it was comical to see the different positions and sleepy heads.  Late Tuesday morning a couple of men got to the schoolhouse, and believe me we were hungry!  They brought us something to eat but it didn’t last long.  We didn’t have any school the rest of the week because I was too tired and then it was all wet in there.  It was quite a nervous strain, too, you know.  I guess it was hard for the parents, too, as they did not know but what I was some little greenhorn that didn’t know anything.  You have always told us about those blizzards so I guess that’s why I was so careful.

It is real nice and springified today. Write and tell me how Kenmare cam out in the blizzard.

Lovingly, Effie

P. S. One teacher in Max had to stand by the door and lock it and hit the big kids over the head with a ruler to keep them.”

            I was so thrilled to find the article, but that wasn’t the end of  my bonanza.  I hit the jackpot again when I looked through the rest of the paper of April 8, 1920.  There on the social page was the following announcement:

Bill and Effie Enger circa 1921

“Miss Effie Mestad surprised her Kenmare friends the latter part of last week when she arrived from Ryder to spend the Easter vacation with her father, J. H. Mestad, and gave out the news that she was married.  The ceremony occurred in Minot on March 29^th.  She was united in marriage to William Enger of Ryder.  The groom is a well-to-do young man and is associated with his father in conducting the Rice Lake Stock Ranch near Ryder.  The bride is a fine young lady and was reared in this city; a graduate of Kenmare High School and is teaching her third term of school in the Ryder district.  The many friends of the bride in this vicinity join extending congratulations.  She is at present visiting her sister, Miss Mayme, at Portal but expects to return to Ryder about the middle of the month to finish her school term, after which they will take up their home on the groom’s farm.  The ceremony was performed by Rev. Lund, pastor of  the Lutheran Church.”

It turns out that after the “big blizzard” of 1920 my parents decided to elope to Minot and get married, then go back to their homes and not tell anyone until school was over.  The main reason was that in those days school teachers were supposed to remain single.  Somehow the word got out but the school board thought enough of Effie to allow her to finish her school term.

(Note:  The part about my father being a “well-to-do young man” was a bit of a stretch, but I am sure that it was written by Effie’s  sister Cora who aspired to be a writer and an actress and was always slightly over-dramatic!)

Effie and Bill were married just short of 56 years when my Mom died on February 26, 1976.   They were the parents of five children who brought forth sixteen grandchildren who now are bringing forth the greats and the  great-greats.  That’s all for now.  Stay tuned for the rest of the “Bill and Effie” saga in a future blog!



TWO GREAT MEN WHO TOUCHED THE LIVES OF THE ENGER PIONEERS

I love old obituaries! Yes, I know, I’m weird—but my friend and relatives have known that for a long time.  The old obituaries told all about the lives and times of the deceased, usually in very flowery language, and they are a real boon to genealogists.  Recently I have run across the “last words” written about two men who were influential in the lives of the early immigrants.

Both of these obituaries were with the belongings of my father who passed away in 1982, and have survived the rigors of time and many moves just a little worse for the wear.  These men were contemporaries of one another, although probably never met as they worked in different communities and moved in different circles, but each left their mark in the memories of the people they served.

Both of these obituaries give a clear picture of life on the frontier, some of the hardships endured by the pioneers, and the remarkable people who helped them through.

The first obituary is of Rev. Styrk Reque, an immigrant from Voss, Norway, who served the church at Spring Grove, Minnesota for many years and would have confirmed, baptized and buried members of the Peder and Elling Enger families.

Rev. St. S. Reque

Spring Grove, Houston Co., Minnesota

September 1, 1910

Our Beloved Pastor Has Gone to His Reward

Rev. Styrk Sjursen Reque was born at Voss, Norway, Nov. 27, 1836.  In 1845 he came with his parents to Koshkonong, Wisconsin.  He attended the Madison High School three years and the University of Wisconsin.  In 1861 he went to St. Louis where he studied at Concordia college one year and at Concordia Theological Seminary three years.

In 1861 he was called to take charge of Roche a Cree, Lemonweir and Newport congregations in Wisconsin.  There he worked until 1871 when he accepted a call from Spring Grove, Wilmington and Black Hammer congregations, Houston County, Minn.  

He was installed in Wilmington, Sept. 27, 1871, and in Spring Grove and Black Hammer Sept. 28.  In 1876 Rev. Reier Larsen became his assistant, and in 1880 Rev. E.P. Jenson was called as assistant.  In 1894 the parish was divided and Rev. Reque from now on served Spring Grove and Wilmington.  Rev. H. J. Wein was called as assistant pastor by Spring Grove and Wilmington in Oct. 1902, and took charge of his work Feb. 1903.  In Dec. 1908 the parish was once more divided. Wilmington and Caledonia formed a new parish and called Rev. Wein. Rev. Reque continued to serve Spring Grove until his death, Aug. 21, 1910.

In 1865 he was married to Cecillia Anderson, from Koshkonong, Wis.  They had the following nine children:  Syver, dentist, Westby, Wis.; Peter, doctor, Brooklyn, NY; Willhelm, dentist, Prairie Farm, Wis.; Gerhard, electrical engineer; Otto, mail clerk, DeForest, Wis.; Walter, railroad station agent, Grand Haven, ND; Mrs. Anna Katherine Muller, Iola, Wis; Mrs. Sara Louise Ceceilia Omlie, Glenwood, Minn.; and Lars, druggist, Mylo, ND.

            After about three weeks sickness, Rev. Reque died in the faith of “Christ Jesus who came into the world to save sinners.” His long service in the Lord’s vineyard is now ended.  His influence for good has been great, and long will he be missed and remembered by the thousands he came in contact with.

            One of the largest, if not the largest, gathering of people in Spring Grove was present, from far and near, to pay the last respect and love to him who had faithfully labored among them.

            Rev. Kristian Magelssen spoke at the house. After singing the hymn 455, Prof. Dr. H. G. Stub spoke in the church, using for his text Revelations 14, 15. Then followed hymn 456, 1, 2.  Rev. O. P. Vangness spoke to the congregation using as his text Philippians 4, 9.  The church choir then sang a touching funeral hymn.

            Rev. K. Seehus spoke in English.  His text was the first verse of Psalm 73.  After the singing of the Doxology, Prof. C. K. Preus spoke in behalf of Luther College, Rev. P. Koren, (next few words obliterated) V. Koren, Rev. H. Halvorson spoke on behalf of La Crosse Special Conference and for four of Rev. Reque’s first confirmants from Wisconsin.  Rev. G. Magelssen spoke for Church Extension.  Rev. Kasberg and Wein spoke on behalf of their congregations.  The services in the church closed with singing hymn 375, 5-7.  At the grave Rev. H. J. Wein officiated.

            The pallbearers were members of Spring Grove congregation, eight of the ministers and his sons.  Among the ministers present were also M. Bleken, Thomas Nilson and Rev. Pankow. To mention the names of all who came from a distance to be present at the funeral is impossible.  We noticed Dr. and Mrs. Stabo and Prof. Svanoe from Decorah, Iowa, Dr. Gunderson, of La Cross, Wis.
            The remains lay in state from 11 A. M. until 1 P. M. in the church.  The floral tributes were many and beautiful.

            In Spring Grove there was sorrow, it was a solemn occasion when so many gathered in their house of worship to see him for the last time who now lay lifeless before them.  But in heaven he rejoiced and will through eternity rejoice, for blessed are the dead which died in the Lord.

It Must Be The Dane in Me!

Mother Carn Jacobson and children, from oldest to youngest:

Pete, Chris, Camilla, Caroline, James, Lewis and John

           
     Until now all of my blogs have been about my Norwegian ancestors so the readers may think that my heritage is 100 percent Norske.  Actually, I can claim 3/4 Norwegian, and 1/4 Dane, thanks to my maternal grandfather John Hanson Mestad, a Norwegian who married a Danish girl.

     When I was a child and I was acting up or displaying extreme stubbornness my father would often say, "It must be the Dane in you!"  I wasn't sure what that meant at the time except it probably wasn't good, but later I found out he was just trying to tease my Mom about her Danish roots. 

    Her mother, Caroline Jacobson, had immigrated to America from Denmark with her parents at the age of 10.  She was the daughter of Andres (Andrew) Jacobsen and Karn Christine (Carn) Andersdatter who emigrated from the Aalborg area of Denmark  and established a farm near Graettinger, Iowa in Walnut Township, Palo Alto County.  Andrew came in 1882 and  the following year his wife Carn and seven children joined him in Iowa.

           Father Andrew and Mother Carn in Denmark 

Possibly confirmation photos 

      Andrew Jacobson was 41 years old when he arrived in New York on March 28, 1882 on the ship Geiser which departed from Copenhagen. The next year his wife and family set sail on the SS Heimdal from Copenhagen and debarked in New York on May 4, 1883.  Carn was born June 27, 1840 in Dronninglund, Denmark. She married Andrew Jacobsen in 1867.  He was born February 24, 1841, the son of Jacob Anderson and Karen Marie Andersdatter of Sebbersund, Denmark

     The years between the marriage of Andrew and Carn, the voyage to America and their reasons for emigrating from their homeland are lost in history as no other records have been found to date, but the fact is that the Jacobson's made their home in Iowa and stayed there the rest of their lives. Carn died in 1916 of cancer and Andrew in 1921 of kidney disease.  They are buried at St. Paul's Lutheran cemetery in the country about two miles out of Graettinger.

     The Jacobsen children, all born in Denmark, were Jacob Peter (Pete) 1868, Andrew Christian (Chris) 1870, Camilla 1872, Caroline 1873, Jens (James) 1874, Lars (Louis) 1878, and Johanne (John) 1879. They were listed on the Danish census  in Vodskov, Aalborg, Denmark on April 14, 1883 just before leaving for America, with destination listed as Emmetsburg, Iowa the county seat of Palo Alto, County.

Andrew Jacobson house in Graettinger, Iowa

     As fate would have it the Jacobson farm in Graettinger was just a few miles from Wallingford in Emmet County, Iowa where the Hanson family had settled.  Hans Hanson and Britha Knudsdatter had both emigrated  from Evanger, Voss, Norway in the 1850's and had married at Spring Prairie Church in Columbia County, Wisconsin in 1862. At the time Britha had a son Christopher, born in 1859 in Wisconsin,  and in 1863 they had a son Knute born  in Wisconsin. In 1865 my grandfather, John Hanson was born in Estherville, Emmet County, Iowa.

    Tragedy ensued when the Hanson boys, Knute and John, were swimming one day in the Des Moines River with their older brother Chris.  The current was swift and the two younger ones both had trouble keeping afloat. Chris only had time to save one of them which turned out to be John, and Knute was drowned.  Another ironic twist of fate;--if Knute had been saved and my grandfather had drowned, I would not be here to tell the story!

     I don't know the exact time this happened as I haven't found a death certificate for Knute, but the 1870 census shows the Hanson family in Peterson Township, Emmet County, as Hans Hanson 60, farmer; Betsy Hanson, 44, keeping house; Christopher Hanson 11; Knute Hanson 6; John Hanson, 5.  In the 1880 census they are living in High Lake Township and the family consists of Hans 70, Betsty 55, Christopher 21, and John 15.

Hans and Britha Hanson, circa 1885

  The only death record I have found for Hans Hanson was published in the Emmet County Republican, dated September 5, 1889: "Hans Hanson died at his home in High Lake, Tuesday morning, August 27, after a long and lingering illness.  Funeral services were held Wednesday, August 28, from the church, Rev. Engh officiating."   And in the Northern Vindicator of Emmet County, dated August 30, 1889:  "Hans Hanson, residing in High Lake Township, died Tuesday morning. Mr. Hanson has been infirm for several years and his taking off was not a surprise."   He would have been 78 years old.

    I have found no death record for his wife Britha either. One problem in finding her is the name. At different times she was known as Britha, Brite, Betsy, and Bertha.  In the 1895 State of Iowa census she was living as Bertha Hanson, 71,  with her son Christopher and family in Estherville First Ward. 

     My grandfather John Hanson took Mestad as his last name when he was an adult. As my Mom explained it, her father thought there were just too many John Hanson's!  He was an entrepreneur of sorts in Emmet County judging by newspaper articles I have found.

•  Northern Vindicator, 10/4/1889: "Henry Hanson and John Mestad are the new boys who have purchased the Squier Restaurant.  They are good boys and worthy successors to the old firm."
• 11/1/1889:  "Mssr's. Hanson and Mestad have a new baker, a Mr. W. Nunn of Eagle Grove."
• 4/18/1890:  "Hanson and Mestad are having their store repainted and kalsomined and a general cleaning up."
• Emmet County Republican ad, 5/15/1890:  "HANSON AND MESTAD CITY RESTAURANT, A First Class Bakery.  Fresh vegetables, fruits, confections, canned goods, etc."
• Vindicator, 10/3/1890:  "Hanson and Mestad have sold out their restaurant to A. A. Lein and Aaron Peterson who will continue the business at the old stand."
• Republican, 12/25/1890:  "A merry Christmas to all.  Holiday trade is lively at this place.  J. H. Mestad is working behind the counter at H. N. Osher's Store, John is a good salesman!"

    

Wedding photo, April 10, 1891, John and Carrie Mestad, right, and Pete and Caroline Jacobson, left.

The next year romance entered the picture, as John H. Mestad, 27, born Iowa, son of Hans Hanson and Brithe Knudsen; and Caroline Jacobson, 19, born Denmark, daughter of Andrew Jacobson and Christina Anderson,  were married on April 10, 1891 in Graettinger, Iowa.  Also married at the same time were Caroline's sister Camilla Jacobson, 20, born Denmark, to August O. Berg, 28, born Norway; and brother J. P. (Pete) Jacobson, 28, born Denmark, to Caroline Thomsen, 20, born Denmark.

     My Mom always told me that her Danish grandparents were not pleased that both of their daughters chose to marry Norwegians.  One must remember that back then the various ethnic groups of immigrants usually stayed with their own kind and their children were encouraged to do the same.  The pioneer Scandinavian churches were  Norwegian Lutheran, Danish Lutheran or Swedish Lutheran, each had their own pastors from the old country, and they wanted their children to remain "pure."

    But there is no accounting for love, and marry they did, John Mestad and Caroline Jacobson.  For the first ten years of their marriage they were content to stay in Iowa and started building their family. Four daughters were born to the Mestads, Alma Henrietta, 12 July, 1893; Cora Beatta, 17 March, 1895; Mayme Lucretia, 03 February, 1897; and lastly, Effie Jeanetta, my Mom, 01 August, 1899.  John Mestad continued making the news during those years:

• Republican,11/1/1894:  "John Mestad's name appears in the official ballots for High Lake Township for assessor on the democratic ticket.  Mr. Mestad wants it understood that he is not a democrat and it was an oversight of his petitions that he got on that ticket.  His name should have been in the independent column." (Note: He won.)
• Estherville Democrat, 5/17/1898:  "John Mestad of the Lund hardware and implement firm, has purchased the widow Kries property at Wallingford and will add to the improvements as soon as possible.  Mr. Mestad is now owner of a half block of the Wallingford soil. Mr. Lund has sold over one carload of binder twine and orders are still rushing in."
• Republican, 10/6/1898:  J. H. Mestad entered a 40-1/2 pound pumpkin in the Pumpkin Contest and won a napkin ring.  The first-prize pumpkin was 43-3/4 pounds.
• Democrat:, 3/30/1899:  Mr. and Mrs. Adson of Terril visited their friends last Monday and made arrangements for the transfer of their real estate to Mr. J. H. Mestad and wife." 
• Democrat, 5/3/1899:  "John Mestad sold his farm last Friday at $25.00 per acre."
• Vindicator, 5/4/1899:  "M. C. Stone and wife to J. H. Mestad, lots 1 and 2, block 2, Wallingford, $40.00."
• Democrat, 8/16/1899:  "Mr. and Mrs. Mestad has added one more girl (Effie) to their household."
• Vindicator,9/22/1899:  J. H. Mestad and wife to J. G. Remmers, nw quarter, sec 31,98,33. $3761.25."
• 9/27/1899:  "J. H. Mestad is managing the T. J. Randolph hardware establishment and doing a good business."

     The newspapers continue to tell the family story of the move to Dakota Territory in 1900. Evidently John Mestad's quest for government homestead land triggered the migration.

• Democrat, 4/4/1900:  "John Mestad and Mr. Peterson left last week for their new home in South (sp) Dakota. Their many friends here are sorry to lose them from our midst.  The best wishes of the DEMOCRAT go with them." 
• Republican, 4/5/1900:  "John Mestad accompanied by Carl Grinder left Tuesday for Ward County, North Dakota."

Troubles in their new home started almost immediately, as chronicled in the Estherville, Democrat, June 13, 1900:

• John Mestad writes from his new Dakota home that they have had no rain there this summer and that even the grass is dying.  Evidently, there are worse places than Emmet County."

    

John Mestad and daughters after the death of Caroline

Alma, Cora, Mamie and Effie on Daddy's lap

Sometime that summer of 1900 John Mestad moved his wife and four daughters to the new homestead of 160 acres in Ward County, North Dakota (now Renville County) north of Kenmare.  I don't know what type of housing was established there but I can imagine that it was quite primitive compared to their former home in Iowa.  Tragedy visited once again, when in 1902 Caroline Mestad, pregnant with their fifth child, died of an appendicitis attack on the homestead leaving behind her husband and four daughters.

    My mother, Effie Mestad, was just over two years old when she lost her mother.  After she was old enough to understand her father told her the story, that when Caroline became ill he hitched up the horses and went as fast as he could to the town of Kenmare to find a doctor.  The first doctor he found was drunk so he went to find another  that would come with him, and by the time they reached Caroline it was too late to save her.  It was determined that she died of a burst appendix.

    I have never found a death certificate for my grandmother through the state of North Dakota, Ward County, or Renville County.  At the Danish Lutheran Church in Kenmare there is this notation in their records: "Karoline Mistad, death April 25, 1902, burial April 29, 1902," but no record indicating that she was buried in the church cemetery. My assumption is that she was buried at the homestead which was not recorded, and that my grandfather asked the Danish Lutheran pastor to officiate. Another one of those SUI (Still Under Investigation) mysteries that may never be solved!

     I am in possession of  John Hanson's autograph book from the old days in Iowa with words and verses of inspiration written by many friends and relatives, some in the Norwegian language. One that is particularly haunting and prophetic was penned by his wife Caroline on May 1, 1892, with these words: "Forget me when I die; The violets above my rest will blossom just as blue; Nor miss my tears: ev'n Nature's self forgets; but while I live, be true.  Your wife, Mrs. Carrie Mestad."

    I can imagine the grief of the Jacobson family back in Iowa who had suffered a double loss, first that John Mestad had taken their daughter and grandchildren away to wild and woolly North Dakota and secondly, she had died there.  To triple the tragedy, their only other daughter, Camilla, married to Norwegian August Berg, had followed John and Caroline out to Kenmare and Camilla died young also.  A Register of Deeds Office certificate shows that August O. Berg purchased 159 and 95 hundredths acres in Ward County on November 16, 1903 for $199. On the 1910 census it shows August Berg, 46, widowed, Alma, 16; Katie, 14 and Arthur 12.  Jacobson sons  Peter, Louie, James and John all moved to Minot area for a time and acquired land but returned to Iowa after a few years.

The John Mestad home in Kenmare, North Dakota

     John Mestad tried to keep the home and hearth going as a single father but times were too hard and he finally determined that he couldn't keep the homestead. He moved his children into the town of Kenmare where he used his old salesman skills working at P. M. Coles Grocery, and Badmers and Dresser's Clothing respectively.  In 1907 he  married his housekeeper, Olga Estabrook. She had been married  previously but her first husband had reportedly ran off and taken their only daughter with him.  Olga did not see her daughter Gladys again until she was grown up.

John and Olga Mestad, circa 1930's

     After the marriage my grandfather would go to work leaving his new wife in charge of his daughters.  What he didn't know is that Olga, or Nana as they were told to call her, had a very bad temper and she was mean to  the girls when their father was away.  She often threatened them with bodily harm if they told him.  She chased the older girls around with brooms and screamed at them,  although she treated  my Mom a little better since she was the baby and the same age as her own daughter. In 1923, after the Mestad girls were grown and had left home, John and Olga moved to Minot where John sold Raleigh products and they established a small grocery and candy store in their home with living quarters in the back. My grandfather died January 1, 1945 when I was 5, and since he lived in North Dakota and we lived in Minnesota I saw him only a few times.  I knew of him from his daughters, who adored their Papa, as a kind, gentle, and godly man who was loved by all.     

      Growing up in North Dakota, my mother and her sisters had very little contact with their Danish grandparents and relatives, especially after the death of Camilla and the return of the Jacobson brothers to Iowa.  She longed for her mother but had no memory of her, so all she knew were the tidbits she gathered from her father and older sisters. 

     The girls were not allowed to talk about their mother around Olga and the "wicked stepmother" even cut the heads out of a large portrait of Caroline and John together. Luckily the older girls saved the heads and I still have them today, passed down to me by my aunt Cora.

John Mestad and daughters circa 1930 during trip back to Iowa.

From left, Cora, Alma, Mayme, and Effie on Daddy's lap

    In later years my grandfather and his daughters made a trip back to Iowa to visit the Jacobson uncles and cousins,  and I can remember as a little girl traveling to Iowa once or twice to visit Chris (Sena) Jacobson, their only son Malta (Laura) and daughters Donna and Karen, just a few years older than me.

    In the early 1990's after I had started my quest for family history, I went to Estherville and Wallingford to meet my Mom's cousins, Mildred (Henry) Sunde, daughter of John; and Vernie (Mildred) Jacobson, son of James.

At that time I saw for the first time a picture of  my Mom's grandparents, Andrew and Carn, and a photo of her great-grandmother, Andrew's mother Karen Marie.  I was stunned by how much my mom Effie resembled her!  Vernie told me that there were a lot of family photos from Denmark but many of them had no identification. At that time I also visited the country church and cemetery where the Jacobson's were buried. 

      

Andrew Jacobson's mother Karen Marie Andersdatter;      Effie Mestad Enger , circa 1950   

St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Graettinger, Iowa 2009, formerly Old Walnut Church

Gravestones of Andrew and Carn Jacobson across from St. Paul's Church

      A couple of years later Vernie's grandson, Mike Torreson of Wallingford, stopped to see me in Sequim, Washington when he was out looking for old railroad memorabilia and in the summer of 2009 I went back to Wallingford and Graettinger on a roots-finding mission.  This time Mike introduced me to his Mom Lois (Ralph) Torreson, daughter of  Vernie.  Her parents are both gone now and she has the old family photos  which she kindly let me scan into my computer. What a treasure!  On that trip I also met Harold Sunde, son of Mildred and Henry who both had passed away since my last visit. I was so happy to make these connections with my Danish family tree, and I hope to see them again on future travels.

The writer in 1991 with Jacobson cousins Vernie,

son of James, and Mildred (Sunde), daughter of John.

Leaving Norway--The Immigrants' Journey

The Enger farm in Nedre Eggedal, Buskerud, Norway

     I am very fortunate, being a genealogy buff, that I not only happened to be born into a story-telling family--but also a story writing family--and I have been blessed to have acquired several of these writings to enhance my family history research.  

     In genealogy of course, it is important to know and to authenticate the names of your ancestors, and the dates of births, marriages and deaths, but in my estimation the exciting part of genealogy is learning about the life stories.   These ancestors of mine were much more than names and dates--they were real people.  Who were they? What did they do? What were they like?  That is the exciting part!

Enger cousins, Paul & Ivan Berg (sons of Ida Enger Berg), Keith "Skip" Enger

 and Irene Navarre at the Bonanzaville Museum in Fargo, July 2011

    One of  the most prolific writers in my family's past was Ida Josephine Enger Berg, one of the daughters of  Palme and Marie Enger, born May 26, 1893, in Davenport North Dakota.  In 1931 she married Timan Grant Berg and raised a family, and in her later years she took on the task of writing the Enger family history.

     Her account of the departure from Eggedal, Norway was no doubt gathered from the stories of her father Palme who was six years old at the time of the journey, and her older aunts. 

      Ida writes that it was Peder Ellingsen Enger who finally succumbed to "America Fever" so prevalent in all of Norway.  Peder had inherited the Elling-Engar farm from his father Elling Palmeson who died in 1844, and his mother Ingeborg and his two sisters Ina and Mari, continued to live there while Peder had moved to the farm Øygarden with his wife Aase.  In 1860 Peder turned over the Engar farm to his son-in-law Ole Kristensen Jokstad, who was married to Peder's oldest daughter Ingeborg.  Ownership was transferred to the young couple with the stipulation that Peder's mother Ingeborg would have a home and care at Elling-Engar until her death. (She died in 1864.)

     Ida continued, "The home of Peder and Aase Enger was saddened by the thought of leaving their beloved country.  It was not easy to make the final decision but with a large family and a small income, it seemed the sensible thing to do.  It required much courage and caused much heartache to leave a comfortable home, an aging mother, a daughter and son-in-law, and a grandson born shortly before they left--most likely never to see them again--as well as practically all their earthly possessions.  But the lure of better conditions and opportunities for the family overcame any misgivings.  So with the six children still at home and the seventh soon to be born, they began to make preparations for a long, dangerous and unpredictable journey.  We are apt to forget the courage of the women involved in all of this.  Peder's wife (our grandmother) expecting her tenth child almost any day, preparing to leave all and set out for an unknown fate.  What courage! What devotion! What faith! Could we in our generation compare to these pioneer women?"

       "Peder Ellingsen Enger was born September 13, 1811 in Eggedal, Norway. He married Aase Ellefsdatter in Eggedal on December 27, 1837.  To this union ten children were born:  Elling, who had already left for America in 1854 at the age of 18; Ingeborg who married and remained in Norway; Sigrid, Ellev, who died in childhood; Joran, Aase, Ellev, Palme, Mari and Gunhild, born in Drammen in 1861."           
     "The proverbial immigrant trunk (chest) was constructed of heavy lumber and reinforced by metal pieces on the corners. It also had a lock and a large key, as well as hand wrought handles on the end. These trunks were painted red as was the custom and the name and address of the owner painted clearly in white on the side. The large chest had a dome-like cover perhaps to provide a little more room."

      "There were two chests--the larger about 4' x 27" x 18" and a much smaller one. It seems reasonable to suppose that the smaller trunk would hold the things needed every day and would need to be opened often en route:  food for a family of eight and a few articles of clothing--diapers and swaddling clothes, for they were expecting a baby.  Then the larger (trunk) would be packed with as much as it would hold, including some tools that would be needed to make and serve food:  the large wooden bowl for mixing bread, the round-bottomed kettle for making mush, their basic food; their spoons and bowls hand carved from wood, and a wooden beater (called 'turu' in our dialect). The tools most necessary in providing shelter--the ax, knife, hammer and saw and perhaps a scythe and cradle.  Not much clothing was necessary as their homemade clothing of homespun was sturdy, but they needed some bedding especially for the smaller children. The older girls carried their shawls which would serve as covers at night. But they would need more clothing when they were settled in the new country so they included the combs used to comb sheep's wool in preparation for spinning, the spinning wheel, and no doubt, the knitting needles."

     "Extra shoes were not needed for their journey was to begin in the spring.  The children were accustomed to walking barefoot most of the year and the soles of their feet were as hard as leather.  But the old cobbling outfit would have probably come with them from Norway."

     "After carefully selecting and packing their physical necessities, the most essential--their books--were placed on top.  There was the Bible, the Hymn Book, the Children's Explanation Book (Folklaring) and Luther's Small Catechism. These books are still in our possession."

     "The chests were piled on carts called "emigrant wagons" and the smaller children rode on top of these as the procession left Eggedal for Drammen.  I assume there were many families that left at the same time and many more who had already arrived at Drammen--their embarkation port.  Sometimes the emigrants had to wait for days before there was a boat available for transportation to England.  The Engers departed via the Drammen route rather than Oslo, for the birthplace of the tenth child is listed as Drammen.  Her birthday is May 11, 1861, and the family's departure for England is recorded as having sailed May 13, 1861.  Small steamboats were used at Norwegian ports to pull the larger sailboats into deeper waters so the sails could function better."
     "From Drammen to Hull, England, was usually a rough voyage as the North Sea was often very turbulent. They went by train from Hull to Liverpool where they embarked for America. On their stopover at Liverpool, they were well treated and fed so they left in better spirits. They set sail in a three-master ship that carried between 500-700 (sp) passengers. It was no luxury liner, and comforts were few, but their voyage was probably much the same as for many others. Our father, Palme, related an incident that occurred en route:

     'A large ship painted red circled our ship. The captain of the emigrant ship called to the strange ship through a large horn. There was no response and there seemed to be no one aboard. The boat sailed away, but soon returned and came directly toward the emigrant ship.  The captain seemed frightened and called all  men on deck (and there were many big brawny men among these passengers.)  The pirate ship--for this is what  it was--turned away so fast that the bow of their ship scraped the side of the emigrant ship and sailed quickly away.'

     "Peder Enger had given his young son Palme a large silver pocket watch upon leaving Norway. Water was rationed on board the boat as it was uncertain how long the voyage would last. The six year old Palme wanted water to drink so he bartered his watch for a drink of water. I am sure they were often hungry as well for they were on the ocean for more than eight weeks before landing at New York (sp) and had little money. The dried beef and flat bread had better last!"

     Note from Dianne:  It was later determined that the ship actually landed in Quebec as that was the easiest route for the English ships to take since Canada was an English colony.  From Quebec the immigrants would typically board a smaller boat to come through the Great Lakes and then overland to their ultimate destination. 
     In 2002, through the website norwayheritage.com, I found that the emigrant ship that carried the Enger family was the bark "Askur" which in 1861 departed from Drammen on May 17 and arrived at the quarantine station at Grosse Ile near Quebec on July 12.   The ship was carrying 3 cabin and 260 steerage passengers. There had been three deaths on the voyage.  She was mastered by Captain C. Dechmann and a crew of 13. 

     The reason we know that the Engers were on this ship is from an announcement that was printed in Norwegian newspapers  as a testimonial of the voyage and to encourage others to sail with this company.  The announcement reads:
     "To Mr. Captain Dechman, commander of the ship Askur.  We cannot abandon you or your good ship without, on behalf of the emigrants, laying before you our hearty thanks to you for the swift, friendly and true human kindness you have shown to us on the whole journey. The untiring way with which you, day and night, looked out for our comfort and our best will never be forgotten by us."

     "The same is true for your on board crew.  They assisted those of us who were sick every time with great favor and medicines. We pray for God's blessings on them and their ship, and that He may be with them on their long  journey back to Norway."

    "Having been elected as a committee by all of the immigrants, we herewith present to you as a remembrance, from the thankful emigrants on the ship Askur in 1861, the accompanying silver article and gold ring, hoping that you will have a friendly remembrance of us, just as we no doubt constantly will remember our good Captain.  God be with you. That is the wish of all."

     "The signers of this testimonial were as follows:  Engebret Halvorsen Soland, Eggedal; Asle Ericksen Olbergsundet, Krødsherad; Erik Ellingsen Solum, Eggedal; Elling Anderson Carlsbraaten, Sogndal; Peder Ellingsen Engen (Enger), Eggedal; Halvor Arntsen Havaldstad, Nes in Hallingdal; Anders Person, Ny Lagenvers Sogn I Sverige (Sweden), Lars Eriksen Svartaas, Krødsherad; Narve Olsen Bjoreeie, Krødsherad." 

     Because the National Archives of Canada did not start keeping passenger lists until 1865, and the Norwegian emigration records did not start before 1867, there is no other surviving passenger list for this voyage.

      To conclude Ida's narrative:  "Our father in later years had a decided distrust and dislike for English-speaking people and it seems reasonable to attribute this feeling to the miserable treatment they received on their cross-country trek.  But in all fairness to the English, we must admit these 'newcomers' were a motley crew; ill clad (probably they had lived in the same clothes for weeks on end, dirty, smelly, hungry, unable to speak the language, unhappy, possibly resentful, regretful and rude.) And then too, the time was wartime in America--1861--the Civil War. Perhaps boxcars and small boats were all that was available and perhaps, male help was difficult to secure as well because of army conscription.  At any rate, they reached southern Minnesota in the fall of 1861 where they had friends. The Enger family came to a family named Guberud who made it financially possible for Peder's family to come. It must have been a happy reunion--all nine Engers arrived safely."

     "The family had left for America in 1861 without testimonial (proper papers) from Norway, so on April 8, 1863, they wrote to pastor Jens Stub, parish minister for Sigdal church, for a transcript. They evidently needed this information and proof of birth to make application for citizenship in the United States. Following is the translation of the original transcript:"

     "Married folks Peder Ellingson and Aase Ellefsdatter Enger of Eggedal's Parish were married in Sigdal's main church December 17, 1837. He was then about 26 and she just 18 years old. They partook of the Lord's Supper the last time here in Eggedal's church on November 11, 1860.  About two years ago (1861) these people immigrated to America without bringing testimonial from here. The following children accompanied their parents.  The oldest son, Elling, had gone to America in 1854, with a cousin, Ole Rustan. The oldest daughter had married and chose to remain. (2) Sigrid, now about 22 years, confirmed and partook of the Lord's Supper in the spring of 1861. (3) Joran, now about 17 years, confirmed and partook of the Lord's Supper at the same time. (4) Aase, born September 28, 1848, baptized October 21st in Eggedal's church. (5) Ellef, born May 17, 1852, and baptized in Eggedal's church June 14th. (6) Palme, born March 7, 1855, and baptized March 25th in Eggedal's church. (7) Mari, born September 11, 1857, baptized October 4th in Eggedal's church.  All the children except Gunhild were baptized in Eggedal's Church, Holman's Prestegard, Norway. (8) Gunhild was born en route in 1861 (Drammen, May 8, 1861)."  They paid 32 schillings for the transcript.

         The descendants of  Peder and Aase Enger are now many and their lives have taken many diverse paths but thanks to  family reunions of Peder and Aase's descendants in the 1990's,  information has been transmitted and updated.   Contacts and friendships have also been made between the descendants in America and Norway which have endured to the present day.

          To my knowledge the first American Enger to visit Norway was Paul Gilbert Enger, a grandson of Palme living in New York and a writer for CBS, who wrote on April 30, 1861:

Eggedal Kirke 2010

View of Eggedal Valley from the Nerdalen home, 2010

            "I left Oslo early in the morning setting out for a town called Amot by train. From Amot I took a bus the remainder of the way, traveling through Enger-roa and Sigdal reaching Eggedal about noon.  As you leave Amot the scenery grows more and more breathtaking and Eggedal, or the setting in which it is placed, is the perfect climax: mountains, still snow-capped; meadow, valleys, waterfalls, rushing rivers.  It surely ranks as one of the most beautiful spots I've ever seen. As you approach Eggedal you climb higher and the road becomes more winding and wooded. Eggedal itself is small--not even a wide spot in the road.  It is dominated by the church; in fact, it is known accurately as 'Eggedal Kirke.'  There are two small stores, a post office, and a tiny 'Kafe' where I had my noon meal as soon as I arrived.  I set out with my camera to take pictures of the church, graveyard, etc. While taking pictures, a young man came up to me and in halting but understandable English, told me to be at the Kafe at 3 o clock to meet Nerdalen.  It seems that the Kafe operator had called the Nerdalen farm and told them that an American was inquiring after them and then he (the proprietor) had gotten  this young fellow to translate the message--a most thoughtful gesture.  While still taking pictures a small panel truck drew up alongside me on the road and a man got out, shook my hand, and by consulting an English-Norse dictionary let me know he was Bjarne Nerdalen, and he would take me to the farm.  After Bjarne's wife (Ingeborg) had set out a big meal and we had eaten we went out again, driving to Enger-roa which is a beautiful valley located at what is called Nedre (Lower) Eggedal. It is dominated by the huge Enger farm, now occupied by Per Enger--a big hearty man who reminded me of Dad.  Directly behind the present house is where Elling Palmesen Enger lived and presumably is buried."

Dianne Enger Snell with Per & AnneMarie Enger, Eggedal 2010

    Since Paul's initial contact many Enger family visitors have been entertained in Eggedal by both the Nerdalen family (Bjarne Nerdalen was a descendant of Peder Ellingsen's sister Mari Enger who married a Nerdalen); and the Enger family, (Per and AnneMarie Enger who own the Enger farm in Nedre Eggedal are descendants of Erick, a brother of Elling Palmesen Enger); and both the Enger and Nerdalen family descendants have also been entertained by Engers in America.

Two stubbars on the Enger farm in Nedre Eggedal. These

buildings were (still are) used on Norwegian farms for food

storage and are designed to keep out varmints!

     When my late husband Dale and I made our first trip to Norway in 2000 we boarded with Per and AnneMarie Enger for several days. By then they had retired from the farm to their lovely retirement home just down the road, and their son Per was operating the farm. What a thrill it was for me to see the two old stabburs (storage buildings) on the farm from the 1700's and the family heirlooms inside the house!  I felt that the spirits of my forefathers were there with me!

Joran Nerdalen and Nils & Line Nerdalen, Eggedal 2010

      Two cousins, Shirley Augustine and Irene Navarre, were also on the trip in 2000 and they stayed with the Nerdalens.  A highlight of the whole adventure was a "family reunion" at the Nerdalen home with Bjarne and Ingeborg Nerdalen,  son Nils (Line); daughters Bjorg (Bjorn) and Joran; Per and AnneMarie Enger, daughter Kari and her daughter Marthine; and our closest Norwegian relative, Anna Braaten, a descendant of Peder and Aase's daughter Ingeborg who was married and stayed in Norway when the rest of the family emigrated.  Anna Braaten was our closest relative in Norway until she passed away in 2008.

      When I traveled again to Norway in the summer of 2010 I was transported by Joran Nerdalen who now lives at Hønefoss in Ringerike, and hosted by Nils and Line Nerdalen who operate the family farm in Eggedal. Both of their parents, Bjarne and Ingeborg, had passed away during the 2000's decade. Joran and I were guests for lunch with Per and AnneMarie Enger and it was so good to see them again.  It is a real privilege to maintain connections with these very special cousins!